Padres hope Bush blossoms on mound

< First baseman Michael Johnson, a teammate of Khalil Greene
at Clemson and a second-round pick of the Padres in 2002 has made
it to Triple-A, but is hitting just .113 after 62 at-bats with
Portland.

< The Padres signed infielder Jon Schemmel, the son of San
Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel. Jon Schemmel is
playing at Single-A Fort Wayne And is hitting .254.

Around the bases

< Sean Burroughs, the one-time star of the future for the
Padres, has been removed from the inactive list by the Mariners and
is playing for Triple-A Tacoma. In his first three games, Burroughs
is 2-for-11.

< Left-hander Justin Dowdy (Rancho Bernardo) was the United
League Pitcher of the Week. Pitching for the Alexandria Aces, he
had three saves in four appearances, didn't allow a run and struck
out 10.

< Left-hander Paul Oseguera (La Costa Canyon) has gone seven
innings in each of his past two starts for the Single-A San Jose
Giants. He's scheduled to start this afternoon's game at Lake
Elsinore.

< Outfielder Mitch Einertson (Rancho Buena Vista) is hitting
.303 with 22 of his 47 hits going for extra bases --17 doubles, two
triples and three homers for Salem in the Astros organization. He
has been chosen to the Carolina League All-Star team.

< Outfielder Danny Putnam (Ranch Bernardo), who spent some
time in the big leagues with the A's earlier this season, broke his
left hand while playing for Triple-A Sacramento.

< Former big leaguers Jose Offerman, Danny Graves, Carl
Everett, Edgardo Alfonzo, John Halama and Todd Erdos are playing
for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. Pete
Rose Jr. is also on that club.

< Catcher Ben Davis, the first-round pick of the Padres in
1995, is now playing for the Camden River Sharks of the independent
Atlantic League. Left-hander Kevin Walker, another former Padre, is
also with the River Sharks.

< Former big leaguers Brian Boehringer, Matt Perisho, Junior
Spivey and Quinton McCracken are playing for the Bridgeport
Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. That club is managed
by Tommy John.

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or at
jmaffei@nctimes.com
. The
minor-league report and the Tracking Local Players chart runs each
Sunday through the end of the minor-league regular season.

TRACKING LOCAL PLAYERS

A look at how North County players are faring in minor-league
baseball. Statistics are through Friday.